A WIRRAL children’s hospice has been selected as one of three charities to receive a funding boost.  

Claire house, a Wirral hospice caring for seriously ill and terminally ill children, and Merseyside charity Alfie’s Squad, which supports children bereaved by suicide, and are two of the three beneficiaries of a big local employer’s new Community Fund.

The two charities initially receive £6,700 each, an equal share of a £20,000 start-up pot for Cadent Foundation Community Fund – with the promise of more to follow.

David Pastor, CEO of Claire House, said: “We’re so grateful that the Cadent Foundation Community Fund will help us support more families than ever before this year.

“Having met some of the generous Cadent staff at the hospice already, we’re excited to work together with the community fund, raising much needed funds to provide the best possible care and support to our families.”

Cadent, which manages the North West’s gas distribution, asked its 1,100 employees in the region to nominate and then vote for which charities would benefit from the new fund.

The third charity they chose is Jolly Josh, a Rochdale-based charity supporting children living with complex needs and physical disabilities.

Ranjit Blythe, Managing Director of the Cadent Foundation, said: “Earlier this year, employees at Cadent were asked to nominate their favourite charity, a local charity they could support through the year, through fundraising as well as volunteering.

“We wanted our employees to choose local charities that meant something to them and are important to their local community.

“Each network has a starting pot of £20,000, to split among their chosen charities. Employees will then fundraise additional money for their charities – and earn a bonus from the Cadent Foundation at the end of the financial year.”